Over politicisation of NYEP and spit fire on saboteurs of NPP flagship

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Manpower, Youth and Employment has rubbished claims by some elements within the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) party that it is only NPP youth who are benefiting from the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).

In his candid reaction, the Minister stressed that “nobody is required to provide party card before a person assesses the programme”.

Speaking on Hello FM morning show programme, “Anopabosuo”, the minister therefore cautioned Coordinators who are handling NYEP at the various districts not to politicize the programme or prepare to be sacked.

“On the form there is no portion for party affiliation. The programme is for all Ghanaian youth whether you are NPP, NDC or whatever”, he said, arguing that he would not be part of a scheme like since nobody knows what would happen tomorrow.

He warned that any officer caught disbursing the forms along party lines would be dismissed immediately, saying that “this is not about party politics, but about the desire of Ghanaian youth to pursue their interests.

He challenged anybody with information about any officer meddling politics with the programme to come forth such information, promising that such allegations would be dealt with precision and alacrity to help instil confidence in the scheme.

“Just as other governments initiated programmes which have benefited the entire country and are legacy to those governments so is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) going to leave NYEP as its legacy to the people of Ghana, he intimated.

On an allegation that certain Coordinators in the Northern Region demand sex from female applicants before they are issued with forms, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique decried the practice, insisting that he would quickly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book.

He noted that this is pure corruption, insisting that nobody should demand anything before assistance is given to applicants.

He also had a problem with Coordinators who don’t collaborate with District Chief Executives (DCEs) for smooth implementation of the programme, asking: “How can the youth enjoy when Coordinators and DCEs fight”.

Again, he maintained that Coordinators who do not desist from engaging their DCEs in unnecessary infighting over the programme would be booted out, calling such acts as pure impunity.

According to him, the 10 modules job creation under the National Youth Employment Programme would be broaden to create more employment avenues for the youth; therefore, efforts should be made to ensure that the programme is sustained.

He said currently the scheme is being operated under youth in agriculture, education, sanitation, community protection, Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and community afforestation and that so far over 30,000 youths have been employed under the programme.

He said NYEP would not only create jobs for the youth but in addition, provide them an opportunity to unearth their talents and develop their capacities to enable them contribute their quota to the country's development.

He suggested that as the programme expands, his Ministry would consider enlisting some of the applicants to the security institutions to help instil discipline and patriotism in the Ghanaian youth, stressing that if that is done, “you will see the way discipline will come from this move”.

He mentioned misinformation as one of the major challenges facing the project and that initially the there were some misunderstanding from some of the collaborating ministries; a problem he said has been resolved, commending the Ministry of Health and Local Government for their commitment to the programme.

According to Alhaji Abubakar Saddique, all applicants to any of the modules should get forms the various District Aseemblies and Sub-Metros, calling on successful applicants to repay their funds to enable more youths to access the programme.